Overview John Cacioppo, University of Chicago psychology professor and author of "Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection," describes loneliness as "an aversive signal whose purpose is to motivate us to reconnect." Married women who feel lonely should pay attention to this signal and take steps to repair the situation. Loneliness, if not addressed, has the power to destroy a marriage and can also affect your physical health. Theories/Speculation Married women feel lonely for a variety of reasons, such as emotional abuse, a lack of physical intimacy, or when work obligations make it difficult to spend enough time together. An unfulfilled desire for emotional connection also causes many married women to feel lonely, says University of Washington sociology professor Pepper Schwartz. "Girlfriends listen with interest and compassion," says Schwartz. "No matter how good a guy is, the comparison with female companionship is so pale that women feel alone." Misconceptions If you're lonely, simply getting married won't cure your loneliness. In fact, the false assumption that marriage can cure loneliness may cause some women to enter into relationships that make their loneliness worse. In the book "The Mirages of Marriage," authors William J. Lederer and Don D. Jackson note that "the most intense and excruciating loneliness is the loneliness that is shared with another person." When marriage fails to cure a person's loneliness, resentment, bitterness and emotional withdrawal may occur, which can then lead to increased feelings of loneliness. Dangers According to University of Chicago psychology professor Cacioppo, loneliness can actually physically harm a person's heart. Lonely people's brains, says Cacioppo, release high amounts of the stress hormone cortisol, which affects the cardiovascular system and can increase the risk of heart disease. Loneliness may also lead to depression and self-destructive behavior such as addiction or infidelity. Married women in particular may feel pushed towards infidelity due to feelings of loneliness, says clinical psychologist Joyce Hamilton Berry. "Women usually cheat when the marriage is not fulfilling and is already in trouble," says Berry. Expert Insight Schwartz notes that talking with friends about your marital issues may help put things in perspective. Make sure you're not asking for too much from your husband, and make sure you're giving enough attention as well, advises Schwartz. Often, you must give attention to get back the attention you desire. "On the other hand," Schwartz says, "if you're attentive and you're being treated like a piece of wood, that's a problem." Getting Help For lonely married women, Schwartz suggests spending time with girlfriends and developing a social life separate from the marriage. Women should also communicate with their partners about why they feel lonely and try to work together to build a connection in the relationship. Therapy, either as a couple or individually, may also help in getting to the root of the problem. Source: livestrong.com